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Multi-languages, Currencies and Internationalization

If you sell internationally, your store must support multiple languages and currencies. The Scenario theme offers full compatibility with Shopify’s built-in internationalization features—but setup is managed entirely in the Shopify admin, not within the theme itself.

🌍 How to Add Languages​

Languages are not added via the theme—they’re configured in Shopify Admin > Settings > Languages.

  • The Scenario theme includes pre-translated language files for built-in UI text (e.g., “Add to cart,” “Search,” “Sold out”).
  • However, custom content (product descriptions, page content, blog posts, etc.) is not auto-translated by the theme.

✅ To translate your custom content, use:

  • Shopify’s native Translations feature (available on all plans), or
  • A third-party translation app from the Shopify App Store

⚠️ Important: Third-party apps are not maintained by us. If you encounter compatibility issues, contact the app developer directly.

📘 Learn more: Shopify’s guide to adding languages

💱 How to Add Currencies​

Currencies are managed through Shopify Admin > Settings > Markets (or Payments > Currencies on older setups).

  • Once you enable multiple currencies, Shopify automatically displays prices in the customer’s local currency (based on location or selection).
  • The Scenario theme automatically reflects the currency provided by Shopify—no theme configuration needed.

📘 Learn more: Shopify’s guide to selling in multiple currencies

🔁 Enabling Language & Currency Selectors​

The Scenario theme includes built-in language and currency selectors, typically located in the Header or Footer.

To activate them:​

  1. Open the Theme Editor (Online Store > Themes > Customize).
  2. Navigate to the Header or Footer section.
  3. Look for settings like “Show language selector” or “Show currency selector” and enable them.
  4. Once you’ve added languages/currencies in Shopify admin, the options will appear automatically.

On Mobile:​

  • Selectors are usually placed inside the burger menu to save screen space.
  • Moving them to the mobile header is not supported due to layout constraints.
    ➡️ If required, you’ll need to hire a developer for custom implementation.

✅ Pro Tip: Enable automatic language redirection in Shopify settings. This detects a visitor’s browser language and auto-switches the store—reducing reliance on manual selectors and improving UX.

🌐 Pre-Translated Theme Support​

The Scenario theme is pre-translated into the following languages:
Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Chinese (Simplified)

📌 Note: The theme settings panel (in the Theme Editor) is currently available in English only.

➡️ RTL (Right-to-Left) Language Support​

The Scenario theme fully supports RTL languages such as Arabic and Hebrew.

✅ To enable RTL:
Set your store’s language to an RTL language in Shopify Admin > Settings > Languages. The theme will automatically adapt layout, text alignment, and navigation.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions​

Does my Shopify plan affect multi-language/currency support?​

❌ No. All Shopify plans (including Starter) support multiple languages and currencies.

Are there limitations to selling in multiple languages?​

Yes. For example:

  • URLs change per language (e.g., /en/products/shoe, /fr/products/chaussure)
  • Some SEO metadata may require manual optimization per language
    👉 See Shopify’s official documentation on limitations of selling in multiple languages.

Will my URLs reflect the selected language?​

✅ Yes. Shopify automatically appends a language code to URLs (e.g., /es/, /ja/). This is beneficial for SEO and user clarity.

Can I translate everything automatically?​

No. Only theme UI text is pre-translated. Your content (products, pages, blogs) must be translated manually or via an app.

🌟 Final Advice: Internationalization is powerful—but start simple. Launch with 1–2 key markets, validate demand, then expand. Use Shopify’s native tools first before adding third-party apps to avoid performance bloat.